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Board approves Raptor visitor-management and badge-alert system for campus safety
Summary
The board approved a roughly $127,000 purchase of Raptor visitor-management iPads and a badge-based alert system that will allow staff to check in with badges, scan driver’s licenses, and trigger tiered emergency alerts tied to campus beacons and 911 integration; recurring licensing costs were noted.
The Tuscaloosa City Schools Board of Education voted on June 3 to purchase a Raptor visitor-management and badge-alert system, which staff said will add badge check-in, driver-license scanning and a tiered emergency alert function for district campuses.
District presenters explained the purchase in two parts: visitor management hardware (iPads on stands to accept badge or license check-in) and an alert badge system for employees. The board was told badges can be used for routine check-in and for emergency signaling. As explained in the presentation, pressing a badge three times would call a medical team; a sustained series of presses (described by presenters as seven presses or continuous pressing) would trigger a broader emergency response. Presenters also described campus beacon placement to triangulate an alert location and said the system integrates with 911 and district emergency processes.
Presenters discussed rollout and training: the district plans to order iPads and new employee badges and expects full integration around September or October, with in-person and virtual training provided. Staff said the badges will be color-coded by role (employees, SROs, substitutes) and that substitute badges would be issued daily. The presenter noted battery life expectations (about three to four months per charge, with notifications when battery is low) and that Raptor provides vendor training and support. Presenters said the district would cover the initial purchase with advancement-technology funds and acknowledged recurring licensing and maintenance costs.
Board members asked about campus coverage and off-campus use. Presenters said the badge alert will function where beacons cover a campus; it is not intended to provide roadside/remote coverage such as while a bus is on a highway. Staff said the alert pushes notifications to district devices and emits a loud, distinctive sound to differentiate it from bells and routine alarms. Board members noted concerns about false alarms and student reactions; presenters said the district will work with Raptor on overrides and training, model drills akin to fire-drill preparations and will monitor the system for false activations.
The board approved the Raptor purchase and integration plan; the motion passed during the meeting after discussion of scope and training.
